FAT - something I never thought I could do.....

When I changed my diet to eat healthy the one area I thought I would have problems with is giving up fat - butter to spread on bread, olive oil to saute etc. The only source of fat in my diet is that which naturally occurs in fruits, veggies, legumes, whole grains and beans. I severely limit things like nuts and avocados because of their high fat content but I do enjoy them as treats because they have healthy fat. My diet has about 10-15% fat - even lettuce has fat in it LOL so you can't avoid getting any fat in your diet.

I thought my biggest challenge would be preparing meals without oil/fat. I'm surprised that I've not had any problems. To saute I use a little liquid which also serves to flavor the food - soy sauce, vegetable broth etc. I haven't missed not using oil at all. The biggest bonus is when I realized that my kitchen area around my stove was a lot easier to clean - there is no grease collecting during cooking. Cleanup has become so easy - LOL who knew switching to a healthy diet would make clean the stove easier. OTOH because I'm actually cooking all our meals instead of eating take away food I'm running the dishwasher a lot more often.

Have you noticed anything that you didn't expect in regards to your change to healthier eating?

Skylar

Hi!
I too was shocked that I could live WITHOUT butter.  My motto used to be "everything is better with butter".  I grew up in a house where everything was buttered.  My grandmother would butter bread to make a salami sandwich!  Gross I know!!

I know what you mean about the stove being easier to clean too.....LOL

The only thing I disagree with you on is the total elimination of all healthy oils......the body NEEDS some fat to work properly.  Having a couple spoons of olive oil or flaxseed oil daily is important. 
Omega 6 and Omega 3 are so important.  One thing they do is boost the immune system!

"......not only to boost your immunity but for all other health benefits associated with omega-3s. Plus, the right ratio reduces the inflammatory stimulus in the liver, so the appropriate inflammation caused when our immune system defends us against an invader does not age us as much. Some fats, like flaxseed oil, have a good balance between 3s and 6s, but you should also add more 3s in the form of purselain and fish such as cod, halibut, and trout. Other ideas: Buy omega-3-enriched eggs, or eat walnuts or the pure DHA form of omega-3 from the same place that the fish get it — plankton." 

 Ruth~
Only 4 pounds till goal??? that is awesome! Congrats! 

Thanks!
I hit my original goal (Dr's goal) but I wanted to lose more so this is my new goal (and I still may push to lose another 5-10)

Have a great weekend!
Ruth

 For me it was giving up starbucks! that was one that used to upset me to think about, whenever i  starting any form of "diet" Starbucks frapachino was an addiction for me, I had one at least 2 if not more times a week! it was something I looked forward to and if I had to go out and run a errond   I would always think of ways I could drive by a starbucks drive thru to get my "fix" I have not had a starbucks frap (or really any starbucks drink) in well over 4 months now! we met some friends at starbucks the other night and I had an ice water! no problem!   so that is something I thought would be harder to give up! I agree with Ruth on the Healthy fats, more importantly the Omega's! and you know how I feel about the coconut oil, my fat of choice! also great for the skin, I have this rash/skin irratation on my hand from some cleanser at work, and the only thing helping it and making it get better is rubbing some of my extra virgin organic unrefined coconut oil on it! 

Hi Skylar!

For me, eating healthier = eating smaller portions of all the food that I love. The biggest surprise? The first few bites of anything tastes BETTER than if I go onto eat another 10 bites.

Why:

I am not as bloated.

I feel more in control of my habits which equates to higher overall self esteem.

I do not feel like I need to go out and Mondo-Exercise to somehow purge the excess calories; I can actually enjoy my exercise for what its true job is: conditioning my body & mind.

I feel not cheated...at all.

I'm touched by your concerns about adding healthy fat. I am taking ground flax seeds every day and another source of omega oils in capsule. I'm also in the middle of reading The Antioxidant Miracle that Michelle suggested I read and I'm going to be using that to guide me to adding some antioxidant.

As for the rest of the fat - there is fat in all food, just some have more than others - all fruit and vegetables have fat. So I am getting fat in my diet - 10-15% which is what the World Health Organization says should be the goal. So I'm fine and my Dr. is happy with this.

I must say that I'm thankful too that Michelle told me about coconut oil - I always pictured it as that hydrogenated bad fat added to junk food - but now I realize there is a healthy coconut oil and I see it sold in Whole Foods and my local food coop that I belong to. It's also in my skin lotions.

I've also felt the strong addiction and withdrawal of Starbucks Frappaccino - what do they put in them that makes it so addicting?

Skylar

 yay Im so glad you are reading the Antioxidant miracle book! and opening up to wonderful coconut oil! I am Almost finished with the antioxidant miracle book! just a few more pages to go! then I need to finish a couple of other books and I still have the China study book on my list of books to get! I saw on lady here on OH who had RNY whose avatar pic was a starbucks Frapachino and it said "might as well call it crack" sooo true!! 

Congratulations Ruth - you're doing so well. Wonderful.

Skylar

Being Italian, I guess I don't understand how one could characterize olive oil as being unhealthy.  I'm not sure a zero fat diet is healthy.  My doctor told me that too little fat in the diet can cause all kinds of problems including some cosmetic ones like significant hair loss.

In any event, my healthy eating thing is to avoid processed foods and drink lots of water instead of diet sodas or coffee.

Good luck, I hope it all works out for you.